Three years already!

 

It been nearly 3 years since I purchased my 2.0TSI Karoq Sportline and the time had come for us to part ways.

 

I did want a Kodiaq but could only afford a 2 year old model. A 2.0 TSI Sportline base spec was around 42K. Wife dislikes the Octavia and the Superb when I sat in it was nice but was too big.

 

For me to buy a new 2.0 TSI I was looking at just over 40K with options(adaptive cruise control, virtual dash, spare wheel, red paint) Canton was not on the option list anymore.

 

So I test drove a 1.5 TSI DSG(148BHP V 187BHP) and was surprised, it didn’t feel that much slower on the motorway but 0-60 is 9 seconds rather than 6.8 seconds. Could I live with this performance after 187 BHP? At 44 years old am I still deep down a bit of a boy racer?

 

I ordered the car in at the end of January and I picked my new car up on the 19/04/23.  List price £35k with options(DSG, virtual dash, Red, adaptive cruise and spare wheel), although when I picked the car up the price would be  now £37400, there was a price increase on the 03/04/23 across the Skoda. The very helpful salesman(Jonny @ Winchester Skoda) advised every Kodiaq now is above 40K and all would be in the higher car tax bracket. Scary.

 

I had no deposit either so used the equity in my car as a deposit, plus there was a  contribution of £1750 from Skoda.

 

What do I miss about my old car:

 

1. I don’t  drive like a hooligan but if you accelerate from a stand still  quickly the wheels spin, downside of FWD rather than 4WD I suppose
2. I miss the fake engine noise, the 1.5 TSI sounds strained upon acceleration
3. Canton. Was very good sounding system and very bass heavy.

 

What I don’t miss:

 

1. Creaking dashboard, intermittent of course!
2. Long runs I could achieve on average 41 MPG but that would be driving at 70MPH, if I wanted to have fun on a back road this dipped to 17 MPG

 

New car likes:

 

1. Android auto is wireless.
2. Is a lighter car, feels lighter to drive. 2.0 TSI felt heavy and very SUV like. 1.5 TSI feel more like a hatchback.
3. Fuel economy, after 100 miles driven this week my average is 40MPG without even trying.
4. There are little subtle changes to the interior, steering wheel and controls.
5. Feels more solid than my old car
6. Easy to drive
7. It’s RED, I love red cars and have received a few positive comments about the car already. When I was collecting the car a bloke enquired about how much it was and how the colour really ‘popped’
8. 5 insurance groups lower , cheaper to insure.

 

New car dislikes:

 

1. 19 inch wheel look tiny, I think there is too much space between the wheel and the body, am just nit-picking really.
2. That’s it.

 

I'm very pleased with my car and looking forward to driving many more miles in it.

Very nice, you’ve got the Vega’s as well instead of the Sagittarius rims with the daft inserts.

 

Having just got in from a drive on a nice undulating country ‘B’ road I’m quite impressed with the 1.5 TSI (manual in my case), it seems to be loosening up now after 1000 miles. I’m also impressed with the handling given how tall the car is.

 

I’ve managed just 42.8 mpg after todays rather spirited drive so not too bad, best mpg to date is 49.5 without trying.

 

 

That is impressive MPG. Glad you are happy with the car. 

 

I don't really like the  Sagittarius alloys. Vegas look better I think. 

 

I need to find some time without family and find a good road.

3 minutes ago, Jasethekaroq said:

Vegas look better

I agree but I’m stuck with the Sagittarius ones for now, but at least now I’ve ditched the stupid inserts they look fairly presentable. I only picked mine up last month so must have had some of the last ones left 😆

I ordered a Karoq yesterday so good to read this. I'll be lucky to get it as quickly as you did, the dealer said it would likely be September. How do you find the sound without the Canton system? I was only able to test drive a 2020 Karoq and I thought the sound system was a bit tinny so I really hope they have improved it. I also would have went for a better sound system but there was no option. 

September won't be too far away. I think the standard system is ok. There is a lack of bass that's all compared to the Canton.  Was not an option so had no choice in the matter. 

On 22/04/2023 at 17:22, Jasethekaroq said:

What do I miss about my old car:

1. I don’t  drive like a hooligan but if you accelerate from a stand still  quickly the wheels spin, downside of FWD rather than 4WD I suppose

It's the choice of tyres factory fit.

To get a better WLTP emissions rating (at test temperature) they fit Eco summer tyres as standard.  Unfortunately these tend to be poor in wet below about +10c.

 

On my car (not a Karoq) with 1 litre DSG managed to spin wheels pulling out of side turnings when cold and damp (in normal, not sport mode).  Bought a set of winter wheels and tyres which I use early November to late April, never been able to spin wheels since.

 

Trust me, car will be lot more fun with good winter tyres when temperature is below about 15c in wet or 10c in dry.  
 

Thanks for that Surrey John. Didn't even occur to me to change the tyres! I see how much this  bothers me.  

Living in the North East of Scotland, all season tyres are my go to default tyre as if we see greater than 30 deg C, for any length of time, then the world is doomed.

Snow up & over the Lecht / A939 today.   & at Glenshee.    End of the week it will be scorchio.

Like any time if the snow gates are open then much of the traffic still moves on summer / eco tyres.  It is scary going up and more so down though.

http://lecht.co.uk/webcams

http://ski-glenshee.co.uk/Snowroad-webcams

http://ski-glenshee.co.uk/Webcam

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 24 April, 20233 yr by toot

On 23/04/2023 at 19:36, SurreyJohn said:

It's the choice of tyres factory fit.

To get a better WLTP emissions rating (at test temperature) they fit Eco summer tyres as standard.  Unfortunately these tend to be poor in wet below about +10c.

 

On my car (not a Karoq) with 1 litre DSG managed to spin wheels pulling out of side turnings when cold and damp (in normal, not sport mode).  Bought a set of winter wheels and tyres which I use early November to late April, never been able to spin wheels since.

 

Trust me, car will be lot more fun with good winter tyres when temperature is below about 15c in wet or 10c in dry.  
 

 

Do they fit Eco tyres. These are not the same as summer tyres, and if they are fitted the difference in fuel consumption is minimal. I've seen a tyre test for Eco tyres, and the wet grip is far worse than the standard summer tyre, more on par with many of the Chinese imports.

They are Summer / ECO tyres.  No matter if Dunlop, Continental, Pirelli, Nexus, Maxxis, or any other, They call them all season they are on for 365 days a year unless you change them.

Unless they are actual All Season / All Weather or what ever then Summer tyres and ECO, not sporty, spirited, wet weather or anything else. 

There are cheap tyres with bad reputations that actually perform better than OE tyres fitted to VW group vehicles.

@Phuttersoften is confused or groans at my posts. 

 

So to be clear.  The Original Equipment tyres as VW Group have on cars even SUV's or AWD's are Summer tyres and ECO biased. 

Pretty useless for lots of the UK for much of the year in anything other than dry warm roads, but then millions of people are driving with these with no issues.

1 hour ago, toot said:

Pretty useless for lots of the UK for much of the year in anything other than dry warm roads, but then millions of people are driving with these with no issues.

 

I'm more confused than Phutters !

 

If millions of people are driving on tyres without issue then obviously they're not useless.   

@kodiaqsportline you get confused on purpose though.# Also when you want to tell others i do not have a Skoda.

 

You post that you fit All Season / All Weather tyres.

 

Location location location, weather, conditions.  Many just need Summer / Eco tyres 300 and odd days a year and drive to the conditions.

Some think they have a SUV / AWD and can go out play with the big rigs and boys and girls. 

 

Millions have a company / lease car or own a car and change the tyres when needed and fit just the same as the car came with new or used.

Edited 29 April, 20233 yr by toot

23 minutes ago, toot said:

@kodiaqsportline you get confused on purpose though.# Also when you want to tell others i do not have a Skoda.

Location location location, weather, conditions.  Many just need Summer / Eco tyres 300 and odd days a year and drive to the conditions.

Some think they have a SUV / AWD and can go out play with the big rigs and boys and girls. 

 

I try and make a valid point and...  You're not allowing anyone to make a valid point without resorting to baiting people with comments like that.  As I said in a previous post, I have no desire to enter the multiple thousand posts club so please try sticking to the subject.

 

You said OEM tyres are useless for lots of the UK for much of the year which is factually incorrect - it's fake news. Within two posts you're already back-peddling  - 300 and odd days a year is  not 'much' of the year, rather it's only a small fraction of the year.

 

9 million people live in central london but only 3 men and a dog live in our neck of the woods. You have to look at this from the majority point of view.

 

OEM tyres are perfectly fit for purpose for Mr Joe Average. If however Mr Joe Average wishes to change that purpose, then you can't blame the tyre, or the manufacturer.

Edited 29 April, 20233 yr by kodiaqsportline

1 hour ago, toot said:

@Phuttersoften is confused or groans at my posts. 

 

Mostly I do it just to wind you up. 
 

Seems to have the desired effect most of the time.

 

Can’t be idling the afternoon away. I need to get out and play with the big girls and boys in their rigs with eco tyres or whatever it was you said.

@kodiaqsportlineI am back peddling no place or caring about post counts. 

 

You just worry about what you post and question my posts if you like, but really get a grip and read what is posted and not as you want to make it sound. 

 

9 million people in London do not have cars and neither do 5.3 million in Scotland and as to where you never like to let on where you live or drive, there are more than you and 2 others a dogs that change to suitable tyres.

So Mr. Not Average Joe that is where we are.

12 minutes ago, Phutters said:

Mostly I do it just to wind you up.

 

I appear to wind him up without trying !   So much anger...  why? 

 

I have much better things to do than play post ping-pong.

Edited 29 April, 20233 yr by kodiaqsportline

@kodiaqsportlineyou do indeed. As you well know because i remember your past posts and comments and armchair expert comments and much the contradiction.

The days of dealership fanboy stuff and VW group worshipping.  It was only a matter of time and then that changed.

Edited 29 April, 20233 yr by toot

Toot,  I think you need to calm down.

 

@kodiaqsportlineno anger on my part certainly not towards you. I make a special allowance for special people.

I remember when you were posting under another name. 

Best not play ping pong or play about trying to pick up what others post, me or anyone.  Remember your own posts.

1 hour ago, kodiaqsportline said:

300 and odd days a year is  not 'much' of the year, rather it's only a small fraction of the year.

 

I make it 60/73 (there may be a lower common denominator) or 82%, not what I would call a small fraction.

 

My winter tyres were on for 3 or 4 months this year, I reckon they were of value and an advantage on 2 days only during that period AKA WTF did I bother!